Cyprus-Forum.com

[laptanige]

Turkish Cypriot prime minister resigns, dissolving government

The Associated Press

September 11, 2006 NICOSIA, Cyprus

A leader of the breakaway Turkish Cypriot republic resigned as prime minister Monday — a move Turkish media said was aimed at averting a crisis over Ankara's bid to join the European Union.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded the island following a short-lived coup staged by supporters of union with Greece.

The EU says Turkey must open its harbors and airports to the internationally recognized Greek Cypriot republic in the south, which joined the union in 2004, or risk its prospects of eventual membership.

Ferdi Sabit Soyer, the Turkish Cypriot premier, withdrew from the ruling coalition last week, accusing his partner, Serdar Denktash's Democrat Party, of pursuing ineffective policies.

A new coalition — created to work more closely with Ankara — would likely exclude Denktash, who had followed a more nationalist stance, opposing concessions to the south despite EU demands.

Soyer's coalition was formed more than a year ago with the goal of restarting UN-brokered reunification talks on the island so Turkish Cypriots could also benefit from EU membership.

That effort had failed, leaving Turkish Cypriots excluded from most EU benefits and suffering under a crippling international embargo.

Turkish Cyprus is a favorite national cause for Turks, and nationalists decry any concessions on the island as tantamount to treason. The breakaway state is recognized only by Turkey.

Turkey's Tercuman newspaper called the dissolution of the government a "dangerous step" toward the elimination of Turkish self-rule on the island.

"A new formation is on the way," the newspaper said. "There is no political party left to defend the entirety of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus."

[reportfromcyprus]

I read that this morning. There's a lot of speculation in it.

[Mickleham]

The future of All cypriots looks brighter and brighrer every day.

All cypriots need to resolve the political differences that keep them apart first.


Be Cypriots First!

[dinos]

I'm with reportfromcyprus on this. Definitely interesting, but too soon to form an opinion.

[Sotos]

I think Greek and Turkish Cypriots should be equals 1 man 1 vote like the citizens of any other country. But Turkey wants 2 countries instead of one. Thats the problem